Car-coupling



(NoModel.)

c. A. MAGNE, GAR GOUPLING.

N0. 442,193. Patented Deo. 9, 1890.

umu.. wnsnmcmw u c STATES NTTn PATENT Garten.

CAR-COU PLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 442,193, dated December9, 1890. Application filed May 6, 1890. Serial No. 350,788. (No model.)

To f/JZ 107mm [t 11mg concern.:

Be it known that I, CHARLns ALLEN MAG-NE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Haldane, in the county of Ogle and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCar-Couplings; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebein ghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and iiguresof reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has reference to improvements in car-couplings; and theobject ot` my invention is to aiil'ord means for automatically couplingthe cars, and also to permit the same to be uncoupled from either theside or the top of the car, and thereby avoid any necessity for theoperator going between the cars either to couple or uncouple; also, tosuspend the'antomatic coupling at such times as it is desired to bringthe cars into contact without effecting a coupling.

rl`he means for effecting the above objects are exhibited in thedrawings, in which-- Figure l is a top view of the lower portion of acar provided with my invention, the door of the car being cnt away toexhibit the same. Fig. is a longitudinal vertical section of the lowerportion of a car provided with my invention. Fig. 3 is a view of aportion of the front ot the bottom of a car provided with my invention.Fig. t is a view of a portion of the end of the bottom of a car,exhibiting the mode of seating my invention therein.

As my invention is intended to be applied at each end of the car and thedevice is the same at each end,and such device is adapted to be attachedto any of the usual forms ot' cars, I do not deem it necessary to showordescribe the car proper any further than is reqisite to a clearunderstanding of the mode ot' attachment, character, and operation of myinvention.

A is the trame ofthe car, consisting of the f rontcross-platel/-l andtheusualsideplates A2.

B B are longitudinal intermediate beams to afford additional support tothe floor C of the D D are short longitudinal beams suitably bolted tothe under side of the beams B or otherwise suitably attached to theunder sido of the frame of the car. The beams D project slightly beyondthe end of the car, and in the inner walls of said beams D, a suitabledistance from the inner ends thereof, are formed vertical recesses 1.

A coupling and draw-barE,hereinatter described, is removably placed inthe interval between the beams D and held in place by the recess 1aforesaid and short cross-plates F F, suitably bolted to the lower andafter sides of the beams D. The draw-bar E consists of an upper plate Qand a lower plate 3, suitably bolted together, with the interval 4between them. On the outer end of the plates 2 and 3 is formed thedraw-head G, having a.

central draw-pin hole 5 and auxiliary or additional end pin-holes G G,the latter being intended merely to afford means for using the ordinarylink-coupling when such use is desirable either as auxiliary to thecentral coupling or in case of temporary injury to the latter.

Between the plates 2 and 3, at the inner ends of the latter, there isloosely seat-ed a cross-plate 7, provided with the central hole 8, through which there isinserted a suitable drawpin II, provided with thehead 9. The drawpin II is provided with peripheral threads lO at itsforward end, which are screwed into a longitudinal socket ll, formed inthe sliding block J. The block .I is inserted lengthwise in a suitableopening G', formed centrally in the draw-head G, and ext-ends inwardlybetween the plates 2 and 3,and is held in place by the draw-pin H beingscrewed into the inner end of said block J, the head 9 on said pinpreventing the latter from passing outward farther than to the pointwhere said head abuts against the inner side of thc crossplate 7 K is arear cross-plate, and L the front cross-plate, loosely sleeved centrallyon the draw-pin H, near the inner end of the latter, transverselybetween the plates 2 and 3, a short dista-nce apart. The coiled springMis seated on the draw-pin H between the platesl K and L. The uprightbolts l2, which hold the plates 2 and 3, serve as stops against the IOOforward movement of the plate L, and the rear similar bolts 13 limit therear movement of the plates 7 and K. On the draw-pin ll, between theplate L and block J, there is seated a coiled spring 14. The inner endof the block J is preferably formed hollow for a short distance topermit the use of as long a spring 14 as practicable. The front endy ofthe block J (which when the front end of the draw-pin H is screwed intothe inner end thereof forms substantially a prolongation of the latter)isalso formed hollow, consisting of an upper surface 15 anddownwardly-depending flanges or sides 16 integral therewith.

Alink-receiving and guide plate N, having a Hat bottom 17 andtriangular-shaped sides 18, is suitably attached at its inner end by ahorizontal transverse pivot 19, which passes through the sides 1Sthereof and the sides 16 of the block J. The formation, location, andseating of the guide N are such that when the block J, by means of thesprings M and 14, is suitably projected beyond head G to its outwardlimit, which is when the head 9 engages the plate 7, the guide N dropsdown at its outer end, so as to present on its bottom 17 an inclinedsurface for the reception of the coupling-link, and as by the momentumof the cars the block J is forced back in the draw-head G (the springs Mand 14 yielding for that purpose) the lower side of the opening G insaid draw-head forces the carrier or guide N upward within the sides 16of the block J. The opening G being of about the depth of the sides 16,the withdrawal aforesaid of the block J carries the movable guide Nupward, and the latter in turn carries the link within said draw-head inposition for engagement with the coupling-pin through the centralpin-hole 5 therein.

O is the coupling-pin, which is provided with the rearwardly-extendinghead 20, in which is formed a horizontal slot 21. To the frontcross-plate A is pivoted in a horizontal position an oscillating rod P,which extends from about the center of the car to near the outer edgethereof, and its outer end is provided with the handle 22 and at itsinner end with a downwardly-projecting arm 23, adapted to be insertedthrough the slot2l in the head of the pin O. The arm 23 at its inner endhas three bends-lirst 24, from the car, perpendicular therewith, then atright angles laterally 25, and then at a right angle upwardly 26. XVheninserted in the slot 2l, the head 20 of the pin O rests upon the lateralor second bend 25, and the upward projection 26 is simply to prevent thepin from shaking from the rod P. The pin O is inserted in the pinhole 5of the draw-head G. lVhen the coupling is effected, the pin O drops intoplace through the coupling-link by its own gravity, the lower end ofsaid pin having previously rested on the upper surface 15 of the block Jinwardly from the pin-hole 27 therein. A

corresponding pin-hole 30 is formed in the link-receiver N, and as thepart J by themoin Fig. 2, being so near the end that it can be reachedwithout danger or exposure.

The limit of oscillation of the rod l is gaged by a stop R, whichconsists of a short arm integral with the rod P, which, when the pin Ois drawn suiciently to clear the lower end of said pin from thecoupling-link and the pinhole 27 in block J, abuts against the plate Aand prevents the further removal of the pin O, allowing the lower end ofthe latter torest in the hole 5 in the draw-head G and upon the rippersurface 15 of the part J, as aforesaid. The arm R is further utilized inthe case of box-cars to attach a chain thereto, which can be raised byany suitable device on the top of the car, and the uncoupling thereby beeffected from the latter position. The moment that the rod P lifts thepin O out of engagement with the: hole 27 in the upper surface of theblock J the spring 14 throws the block J outwardly, carrying thepin-hole 27 beyond head G, thereby forming a seat on block J for thelower end of said pin O. i There areroccasions, such as switching in theyards or in changing cars, when a coupling is not desired, though thecars may come in contact.

To keep the coupling-pin from dropping into engagement every time theblock J is driven in by the impacts of the cars, I pro vide a slide S,which is seated on the outer face of the plate A by means of bolts 28,passed through horizontal longitudinal slots 29 in the said plate, andsaid slide thereby is adapted to be moved out under the handle 22 of therod P and thereby temporarily suspend the pin O and the automaticcharacter of said coupling until such time as the coupling is required,when said slide can be pushed inward out of engagement with the handle22 and rod P have its normal action.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The coupling-link is placedin position in one car, so that the pin O of the opposite car may engagethe same, and in this situation the link projects beyond the end of thepart J, with its outer end slightly depressed. In the car in which theoperation of coupling is to take place the coupling-pin O is supportedby its vlower end resting upon the top of the part J, the latter'projecting, as shown thrown out by the joint` eX- pansiou of the springsM and 14. As the cars come in contact the projecting end of the link iscaught upon the upper surface of the bottom of the opposite guide N, andthe further mutual approach of the cars forces the block.

IOO

ilo

J inward (said springs M and il yielding for that purpose) until thehole 27 in block J registers with the hole in the draw-head G, when thepin O drops through part J and the coupling-link carried within thelatter. The parts are so proportioned that the link enters theprojecting portion of J beyond the hole 27 in the latter before thewithdrawal mentioned of block J begins. Therefore when the coupling-pinO drops through the opening 27 in block J it also passes through theinterior of the link. The link guide and carrier N in the withdrawalaforesaid of the block J is carried up by the conformation of theopening G of the draw-head G into a horizontal position, as shown inFig. 4. In this position the draft is not upon the bloek J, but whollyupon the draw-head G. The uncoupling is effect-ed, as aforesaid, by themeans of the rod P, either through the handle 22 from the ground or bymeans of a chain attached to the arm R from the top of the car. Asufficient elasticity is afforded for starting the car by the rearspring M on the pin H, the front plate L forming the stationary head,the latter being held by the bolts l2. The concussions from the impactsof the cars is relieved by both the springs M and l-l, the rear plate Kin such situation becoming stationary and being supported against therear pins lf3.

The advantages which I claim for my invention are that there is affordedthereby a device which couples automatically and can be uncoupledwithout the interposition of the body between the cars. The droopingcharacter of the link guide and carrier N adapts the coupling to cars ofdifferent altitudes. The use of both springs M and l-l in the impact ofthe cars affords a double cushion against the results of concussion. Infiat cars all of the apparatus, when the pin O is in position, is belowthe plane of the floor of the car, so as to form no obstacle in movingfrom one car to the other and no obstruction to the usual unloading ofgravel by plows, common on construction-trains; also, by the means ofthe slide S the automatic character of the coupling maybe suspended atsuch times when the coupling is not desired; also, my invention can beused in connection with cars provided only with the ordinary linkand-pincoupling. The oscillating rod P, as a means of controlling the verticalmovement of the pin O, has the advantage in moving a measured distance,which is not true with links or ropes, which are liable to become kinkedor knotted. The engaging end of the rod P, in the oscillations of thelatter, traverses the slot 2l. in pin O, so that said pin is lifted andheld in asubstantial]y-vertical position.

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, 1s

l. ln a car-coupling, the combination of the beams D D, suitablyattached to the body of the car and provided, respectively, withrecesses l I the draw-head G, provided with central-pin hole 5, draw-pinH, sliding block J, plates K and L,sleeved on pin Hand adapted toproject, respectively, within said recesses l, and rear spring M,saiddrawing mechanism being suit-ably supported between the beams D D,substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

2. In a ear-coupling, the combination of the beams D D, suitablyattached to the frame of the car and provided, respectively, withrecesses l. the draw-bar E, the draw-pin Il, the plates K and L, sleevedon said pin H and extended within the said recesses l, supportingcross-plates F F, the sliding block J, adjustably attached to draw-pin Hand provided with pin-hole 27, the link receiver and guide N, providedwith hole 30 and pivotally attached to the part J, spring 14,coupling-pin O, provided with slot 2l, and coupling-rod P, adapted atone end to engage said couplingpin within said slot and provided withthe handle 22, substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

3. In a car-coupling, the combination of the bea-ins D D, suitablyattached to the frame of the ear and provided, respectively, withrecesses l, the draw-bar E, provided with head G, having hole 5, thedraw-pin H, plates K and L, sleeved on said pin and extended Within thesaid recesses l, supporting cross-plates F F, the sliding block J,adjustably attached to draw-pin H and provided with pin-hole 27, thelink receiver and guide N, provided with hole 30 and pivotally attachedto the block J, spring la, coupling-pin O, provided with slot 2l,coupling-rod P, adapted at one end to engage said coupling-pin Withinsaid slot and provided with handle 22, and stop-arm R, substantially asshown, and for the purpose described.

el. In a car-coupling, the combination of the beams D D, suitablyattached to the frame of the car and provided, respectively, withrecesses l, the draw-bar E, provided with head G, the pin H, plates Kand L, sleeved on said pin and extended within the said recesses I,supporting cross-plates F F, the block J, adjustably attached todraw-pin H and provided with pin-hole 27, the link receiver and guide N,provided with hole 30 and pivotally attached to the block J, spring Il,couplingpin O, provided with slot 21, uncouplingrod P, adapted at oneend to engage said coupling-pin within said slot and provided withhandle 22, the stop-arm R, and slide S, substantially as shown, and forthe purpose described.

5. In a car-coupling, the draw-bar E, adjustably connected at its innerend to the body of the car and provided at its forward end with thedraw-head G, having the central longitudinal opening' G and vert-icalpin-holes 5, the sliding block J, loosely sleeved within IOO IIO

said draw-bm' and provided with pin-hole 27, the link-guide N,pivotstlly attached at its iupiesenee of two Witnesses'. 11er end to theblock J, the spring; 14, draw- Iu testimony whereof I aix mysignature inpin H, coupling-pin O, provided With the slot CHARLES ALLEN MAGNE' 5 21,and the rod P, adapted to engage said pin v fitness es:

and reise it :t limited distance only, substan; E. SUMMERS, tiallyasshown, and for the purpose described.

J. B. SWIFT.

